WASHINGTON---JSAT has selected Arianespace to orbit its JCSAT-8 telecommunications satellite in late 2001. NASDA has chosen Arianespace to launch its LDREX experimental deployable antenna in the coming months. The two new contracts were announced by Arianespace Chairman and CEO Jean- Marie Luton at a press conference in Tokyo today.
JCSAT-8 JSAT CORPORATION's President and CEO Mr. Takuya Yoshida and Arianespace's Jean-Marie Luton signed the contract for JCSAT-8 on April 18.
JCSAT-8 is the 4th satellite entrusted by JSAT to Arianespace, and the 17th from Japan. The spacecraft will be an HS 601 platform manufactured by Hughes Space & Communications. Its launch is planned for the end of 2001 on an Ariane 4 or an Ariane 5 from Kourou, French Guiana, South America.
LDREX The National Space Development Agency of Japan's (NASDA) contract with Arianespace calls for the experimental LDREX spacecraft to be launched in the coming months by an Ariane 5 from Kourou.
LDREX is a half-scale mock-up of a deployable antenna for the future ETS-8 technological satellite. A camera will be installed on LDREX to record the antenna's deployment after its release from Ariane 5. This NASDA contract with Arianespace reflects the growing will of space cooperation between Japan and Europe.
During his press conference in Tokyo, Jean-Marie Luton declared: "Arianespace has been chosen to launch 17 of Japan's 23 commercial satellites, and we are proud of our 14-year contribution to the development of satellite telecommunications in Japan. Arianespace is honored by this renewed mark of confidence from the major satellite operator JSAT, as well as by NASDA's selection of Ariane for the LDREX launch.''
With these new orders and the successful Flight V129 mission on April 18, Arianespace's commercial launch services order book stands at 210 satellites -- of which 39 remain to be launched.
